Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: In his second season with the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL), Andrew MacWilliam recorded 13 points, all assists, in 54 games. He recorded another five helpers in 18 playoff games with the club.

2008-09: In his final season with Camrose, MacWilliam would add eight goals and 21 assists.

2009-10: MacWilliam entered his first NCAA Season on a deep North Dakota squad, playing in a limited role. In 43 games, he would only manage three assists, but would help his team to the NCAA (WCHA) Championship.

2010-11: MacWilliam skated in 37 games as a sophomore for WCHA champion North Dakota and provided a complementary stay-at-home partner to WCHA First Team All-Star Chay Genoway (MIN), an offensive-minded defenseman. MacWilliam had 8 assists and was +10 with 49 PMs for the Fighting Sioux.

2011-12: MacWilliam provided physical play in the defense corps for North Dakota; leading the team with 75 penalty minutes. Skating on the Fighting Sioux’ second pairing with freshman Nick Mattson (CHI), he was plus-13 and scored 2 goals with 5 assists in 42 games. North Dakota won the WCHA playoff title after finishing fourth during the season; defeating first place Minnesota and Denver on back-to-back nights to capture the Broadmoor Trophy. Minnesota returned the favor in the NCAA West Regional Final — defeating North Dakota, 5-2.

2012-13: MacWilliam signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in April of 2013 following his senior season at North Dakota. He played two AHL games with the Toronto Marlies in April and had no points nor penalty minutes. Toronto finished first in the North Division but MacWilliam did not appear in any playoff games. Skating with junior Dillon Simpson (Edmonton) on the top defensive pair for North Dakota, MacWilliam scored 2 goals with 11 assists and was +13 in 41 games. He led the Fighting Sioux with 116 penalty minutes. North Dakota was third in the WCHA and received an at-large NCAA bid after an overtime loss to Colorado College in the WCHA semifinals. The Fighting Sioux defeated Niagara in the NCAA West Regional semifinals before falling to national champion Yale, 4-1.

2013-14: MacWilliam skated in 57 of 76 regular season games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies in his first pro season. He had 9 assists and was +3 with 96 penalty minutes. Toronto finished first in the North Division and reached the Western Conference finals — falling to Texas in a seven-game series. MacWilliam played in nine playoff games and was +2 with 1 assist and 8 penalty minutes.

Talent Analysis

MacWilliam is a character person both on and off the ice and has found his niche as a rugged defensive defender. He is capable of delivering punishing hits and anticipates the play well. He is mobile for his style of game, but could still use polishing. MacWilliam moves the puck efficiently from the back-end but is limited offensively.

Future

MacWilliam attended training camp with the Maple Leafs before being assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies at the start of the 2014-15 season. Seeing steady ice time in a shutdown role for the Marlies, he has cut down on his penalty minutes while his plus/minus is much-improved from his first AHL season. Long-term MacWilliam does not play with the flash of some of the other Toronto defense prospects but he plays the type of solid, physical game that most winning teams covet. He could be an effective lower pairing defenseman at the NHL level one day.

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